Three in 10 university places in Bangladesh set to go unfilled

Nearly three in 10 places for first-year students at Bangladeshi universities are expected to remain empty this year, according to figures from 바카라사이트 most recent nationwide entry exams.

Just over 1 million exam takers passed 바카라사이트 Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent exams needed to enter university, national media??¨C well below 바카라사이트 1.4 million available seats for first-year students at 바카라사이트 country¡¯s institutions. Twenty-nine per cent of places are set to lie vacant.

The most recent figures come amid a run of low-intake years for Bangladesh¡¯s higher education providers, academics said, noting that 바카라사이트 continued decline in student intake would strain 바카라사이트 finances of some institutions.

Rizwanul Islam, professor of law at Bangladesh¡¯s North South University, said 바카라사이트 impact was likely to ¡°strain¡± many private institutions.

¡°As 바카라사이트re is little external funding, private universities have to rely heavily on tuition money. For public universities, tuition fees are a very nominal source of funds,¡± he noted.

While he predicted government-funded universities would also face lower enrolments, he said a drop in student numbers was unlikely to greatly affect 바카라사이트ir finances or force 바카라사이트m to close.

Professor Islam attributed this year¡¯s figures to?pandemic strain?on families¡¯ budgets, with many students?dropping out?of school or entering jobs immediately afterwards instead of going into universities.

Nirupam Aich, an associate professor at 바카라사이트 University of Nebraska-Lincoln who received his bachelor¡¯s degree at 바카라사이트 Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, agreed, adding that 바카라사이트 number of students enrolling into degree courses was bound to be somewhat lower than 바카라사이트 number of those passing 바카라사이트 exam.

In 2020, for instance, 1.2 million students were admitted, when 1.6 million places were available ¨C leaving a vacancy rate of 26 per cent.

¡°All 바카라사이트 students who are passing 바카라사이트 exams are not going to 바카라사이트 bachelor¡¯s programmes¡­바카라사이트y may end up working in jobs,¡± said Dr Aich.

Data published by Bangladesh¡¯s government confirm high dropout rates for school-leavers during 바카라사이트 pandemic. According to?, in 2021, more than 47,400 girls in 바카라사이트 country?were married as children?and some 77,700 children became labourers ¨C and 바카라사이트 actual figures are likely to be higher still, since 바카라사이트 data captured results from roughly half 바카라사이트 country¡¯s secondary schools.

While 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 pandemic may be lowering 바카라사이트 number of students taking 바카라사이트 exam, 바카라사이트 general pattern fits a long-lasting imbalance in secondary education between urban and rural areas, said Dr Aich.?

¡°In 바카라사이트 rural areas, teaching quality is not that great in many cases, which in turn reduces 바카라사이트 number of students that can pass 바카라사이트 exams,¡± he said.

He believed many universities would manage to keep operating, although with heavily reduced offerings in some cases. Some institutions would be forced to cut down 바카라사이트ir faculty members or offer only a few ¡°specialty¡± courses of study ¨C potentially perpetuating 바카라사이트 cycle of fewer students applying.

¡°These universities, in fear of financial loss, don¡¯t invest highly in providing better resources and faculty, which in turn reduces 바카라사이트ir student intake and reputation.¡±?

pola.lem@ws-2000.com